Rating: 5.6–5.12+
Climb type: Traditional and sport
Land manager: Washington State Department of Transportation, wsdot.wa.gov; USDA Forest Service, Northwest Region, www.fs.usda.gov/main/r6/home
Fees and permits: None
Maps and guidebooks: DeLorme Washington Atlas & Gazetteer: Page 100 D2.
Getting there: From Vancouver, Washington, head east on WA 14. About 0.3 mile past Belle Center Road, look for a pullout on the right at milepost 23.75. From the paved shoulder, look for a narrow dirt trail that angles down eastward under the bluff. The path descends to the initial steep cliff section at the far west end of the Ozone Wall.
The Climb
The Ozone Wall is the new crag on the block. And with that newness comes commensurate interest. But the interest is warranted, and not just because it’s a shiny new toy. The Ozone is home to a diverse selection of nearly seventy moderate climbing routes ranging in difficulty from 5.6 to 5.12+.
INDOOR CLIMBING
Portlanders are a pretty sturdy lot when it comes to enjoying the outdoors in all seasons. But not all of us are, and even the most hard-core outdoor enthusiasts occasionally opt for warm and dry over cold and wet. Portland has a handful of top-tier climbing gyms that go beyond just keeping you in shape and your skills sharp; they’re legitimately enjoyable.
Portland Rock Gym (portlandrockgym.com). As good as it gets, they offer classes, instruction, after-school programs, corporate events, parties, and of course lots of great climbing.
The Circuit (thecircuitgym.com). It’s bouldering rather than climbing—slightly different but just as much fun. No equipment, shorter climbs, padded falls.
Planet Granite (planetgranite.com/locations/portland/pdx_faq.php). Indoor climbing with the added benefit of yoga.
The Ozone Wall is easily accessed by a short trail hike from WA 14. Bear in mind that all the climbs are lead routes. Most belay anchors are at least 90 feet high, and the cliff is about 120 feet tall.
Be aware that due to the newness of the site, some loose rock still exists. But this issue continues to dissipate as the spot gains popularity. One favorite route, Masterpiece Theatre (5.11c, sport; 95 feet), features a crimp-laden crux with an exhilarating upper arête. High Plains Drifter (5.10c, sport; 75 feet) is benign until the first bolt. From there things get progressively more technical, finishing with a 10c crux near the top.
Local Information
Post-climb food and drink: A couple of great spots are Hearth, 1700 Main St., and Amnesia Brewing, 1834 Main St., in Washougal.
If you already enjoy the sport, you don’t need me to extol the virtues of disc golf. But since not everybody who picks up this guidebook has had the pleasure of losing a disc into the Ridgecrest Timbers Apartments, allow me to disseminate some basic information.
Disc golf is similar to traditional golf in its basic concept. The primary goal of disc golf is to get a disc into a bucket with the fewest number of throws. There are of course a number of official rules, but at its core, disc golf is easy to understand and easy to start playing. One big difference though—roughly 90 percent of all disc golf courses are free. The startup cost is also low; discs start at around $8 brand-new and can be purchased used for even less. Many courses wind their way through public parks that offer other pre- or post-round activities. Anybody capable of throwing a disc will immediately enjoy the game, while those unable or perhaps unwilling to throw can certainly enjoy the walk. Though the sport may be easy to play, it is difficult to master, giving those looking for a challenge plenty to contend with.
The game can also provide a good amount of “sneaky exercise.” For example, during an average round at Pier Park in St. Johns, you can expect to get in roughly 3 miles of cross-country walking. Currently, there are about fifteen courses in the greater Portland area, with more in the works. Disc golf’s combination of accessibility and affordability make it a great outdoor activity to add to your repertoire.
Recommended Outfitters
Disc Golf Depot. Seriously, a ton of discs and accessories (http://discgolfdepot.com).
Disc Heroes. This is also a great place to augment your comic book collection (discheroes.net).